Honeymooners and singletons alike, will want to try out the new W Hotel in Istanbul. A point some might appreciate as there is really nothing worse than staying in a hotel where a)every one is married and it’s just a long line of bored couples at the breakfast buffet or b)every one is single and looks a bit desperate to meet the right person.

Following in the footsteps of its successful spa, the Luthan hotel opened its opulent doors to the discerning public this month, welcoming a new concept to the Kingdom: NO MEN ALLOWED! That’s right ladies, times are definitely a-changin’ and Riyadh is at the forefront of this new trend.

The Oman Link

Your list of places to visit keeps getting longer. You want to go diving in the Red Sea, shopping in Istanbul and check out Oman.

You’re right: check out Oman.

Unlike other places in the Middle East, Oman is neither a Disney attraction park nor a wannabe war zone: it’s authentic – and what I mean by that is it's NOT Madinat Jumeirah’s souk…

What is it with design and the Middle East these days? In Dubai, the new design store Traffic is a hub to exchange all kinds of creative ideas around design and architecture.In Beirut, the new store “Over the Counter” is a three floor ode to industrial design. If that was not enough, a great show has just opened, again in Beirut, simply entitled ECHO, which records the conscious flirting between art and design.

The Syria Link

On a recent trip to Damascus, I discovered quite a new city. Sure, the Four Seasons has been there for the past couple of years, and that’s brought a good measure of modernization. But what a surprise when I discovered Segafredo and Costa coffee shops, in addition to a gleaming new Aishti and Pointure shoe store.

The Travel Link

Politics in Lebanon might not help the tourism industry, but don’t let that stop you. Now that the snow is falling, Dia gives you a short and sweet lowdown on Lebanon’s pistes.

The Travel Link

Sigh, the “Red Sea Riviera.” How many times did that make you smile while watching those promotional adds on CNN? Sure, Middle Eastern resorts aren’t exactly Saint Tropez (though I know some who would disagree), but they definitely have their own character. And for those who love to swim, the scuba diving is amazing.
The new place to try out is Dahab, only a couple of hours away from anywhere in the Middle East. It’s less developed than Sharm, so no tacky European tourists in site – okay, less.